Cedar Bluff standoff ends in suicide

BY LISA ROGERSTimes Staff Writer

Published: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 10:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 10:39 p.m.

A Cherokee County man apparently shot and killed himself Saturday night about three hours after he struck his wife with a gun and shot at her, then barricaded himself in his home in Cedar Bluff, Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said.

Law enforcement officers in Cherokee County responded to the call about 3 p.m. after receiving a 911 call from the man’s wife.

Officers had information the man had several weapons and was heavily armed.

“He made statements he intended to use violence and he would not go back to jail,” Shaver said.

Cedar Bluff officers responded first and were unable to get any response from the man. They were able to set up a perimeter around the property, just off Alabama Highway 9 in Cedar Bluff.

Shaver said they made the decision to contact the Etowah County Joint Special Operations Group for assistance.

Negotiators attempted for more than an hour to contact the man but had no response.

Officers with the SWAT team used tear gas in an attempt to get the man to surrender.

After no response, the SWAT team made entry and found the man, who had shot himself, Shaver said. Officers also found several weapons and ammunition.

Rob Savage, commander of JSOG, said law enforcement officers in Cherokee County had done a great job of securing the area to minimize any threat to others in the neighborhood.

“We really appreciate the response from Etowah County,” Shaver said. “They did a great job.”

Sheriff Todd Entrekin said sheriffs from across the state have a mutual aid agreement in place to assist others when needed.

<p>A Cherokee County man apparently shot and killed himself Saturday night about three hours after he struck his wife with a gun and shot at her, then barricaded himself in his home in Cedar Bluff, Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said.</p><p>Law enforcement officers in Cherokee County responded to the call about 3 p.m. after receiving a 911 call from the man's wife.</p><p>Officers had information the man had several weapons and was heavily armed.</p><p>“He made statements he intended to use violence and he would not go back to jail,” Shaver said.</p><p>Cedar Bluff officers responded first and were unable to get any response from the man. They were able to set up a perimeter around the property, just off Alabama Highway 9 in Cedar Bluff.</p><p>Shaver said they made the decision to contact the Etowah County Joint Special Operations Group for assistance.</p><p>Negotiators attempted for more than an hour to contact the man but had no response.</p><p>Officers with the SWAT team used tear gas in an attempt to get the man to surrender. </p><p>After no response, the SWAT team made entry and found the man, who had shot himself, Shaver said. Officers also found several weapons and ammunition.</p><p>Rob Savage, commander of JSOG, said law enforcement officers in Cherokee County had done a great job of securing the area to minimize any threat to others in the neighborhood.</p><p>“We really appreciate the response from Etowah County,” Shaver said. “They did a great job.”</p><p>Sheriff Todd Entrekin said sheriffs from across the state have a mutual aid agreement in place to assist others when needed.</p><p>“We were glad to be of assistance,” he said.</p>